smidgen
Americannoun
noun
Etymology
Origin of smidgen
First recorded in 1835–45; origin uncertain
Explanation
A smidgen is a little bit of something. If you're only hungry enough for a little bit of ice cream, you might ask for just a smidgen in your bowl. Maybe you prefer just a smidgen of ketchup on your fries, or you might speak a smidgen of German, enough to buy your train tickets in Berlin. You can use the adjective smidgen to talk about a tad of anything, although it's often used for describing or requesting little bits of food. It's thought to have come from the Scottish word smitch, "a small amount or an insignificant person."
Vocabulary lists containing smidgen
Pride
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
The One and Only Bob
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Moon Over Manifest
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
For instance, T-Mobile could customize its offer for each individual, just a smidgen below competitors’ rates, rather than roll out broad-based pricing plans.
From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 14, 2025
September’s consumer price index rose at a 3% annual pace, a smidgen lower than the 3.1% rate analysts expected.
From Barron's • Oct. 24, 2025
After everything these two had been through, there was a smidgen of respect.
From BBC • Apr. 26, 2025
Again, Captain must leverage his language skills, this time to afford his people some smidgen of a presence in Hollywood.
From Salon • May 12, 2024
I was all ready to help parcel out the smidgen of food when, lo and behold, Hattie Mae uncovered a huge angel food cake.
From "Moon Over Manifest" by Clare Vanderpool
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
